Tigers Fans Have Right To Boo Inge

DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 12: Brandon Inge #15 of the Detroit Tigers hits a solo home run in the seventh inning of Game Four of the American League Championship Series against the Texas Rangers at Comerica Park on October 12, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The boos were loud. The boos were embarrassing. But Tiger fans had the right to boo Brandon Inge.

They pay the money. They pay the salaries and fans are upset with the situation. Although the Tigers are 10-6, they are struggling at the plate and people want to see the best product on the field. Many folks don’t get this Brandon Inge experiment.
Why is he playing? Why is he on the team? How in the hell can he be batting .056 and keep a job? He hit a home run in Kansas City and disappeared. His batting average never got above .167 this season. And we thought batting .181 in spring training was bad. We thought batting .197 last season was bad. Heck, Inge looked like Ted Williams compared to what he is doing now.

I was at Saturday’s game and fans gave it to him pretty good. They booed him again Sunday when Inge stepped up to the plate as a pinch hitter. Some fans tried to battle the boos by drowning out the boos with cheers. It didn’t really work.

Some believe fans should never boo their home team or home players. I disagree. Fans are really powerless. You cannot affect change. You cannot go up to the owner or the manager and tell him what you want. And even if you could do you think they would really listen? You only have two alternatives. You can refuse to purchase tickets or you can boo. People are tired of Inge and this is the only way to vent unless of course you call 97.1 FM the Ticket.

The boos, laughter and catcalls were uncomfortable for Inge and the Tigers. But they know where you stand and it is important that companies know where their fans and customers stand.